FRE

E

Edition 17 | Thursday, 27 February 2014Tel: 083 774 2383

Born to be wild

DISTRIBUTION AREAS: Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Graskop, Hazyview, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa, Pilgrims Rest, Sabie & White River. Published bi-weekly.

Do crocodiles climb trees?Pg3

Ban on SA meat exports lifted

Minister Joemat-Pettersson informed the media that while welcoming the positive devel-opment, she has directed the Department to develop me-dium and long-term interven-tions to bolster bio-security controls and to ensure this status is maintained. She in-dicated that achieving FMD status appears high on their sector priorities in the Agri-cultural Policy Action Plan (APAP), which is in the final stages of consultation be-fore going to Cabinet and is pleased to now revise that part of the Plan, to focus on maintaining the status.

The Department will coordi-nate the compulsory Com-

munity Service for graduates, who will be closely mentored, and the first cohort will be in the field during 2015. Twenty seven mobile clinics have also been procured and will be deployed to all provinces. These are fully equipped vehi-cles, including operating the-atres, and will bring veterinary services to rural areas where they have not pre-viously been. Contin-ued on page 3.

Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson

The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) has developed what it calls the Cross-Functional Accident Reduction Plan (CFARP) which aims to reduce accidents in the general aviation sector, in a coordinated manner. The plan, which will be implemented over two years, deals with systematic

inherent weaknesses in address-ing the causes of aircraft acci-dents.

The authority has expressed con-cern at the recent spate of aircraft accidents that have claimed the lives of 11 people while calling for safety in the skies. There were

six fatalities in six accidents in January - and five people died in three accidents in February. The accidents occurred in the general aviation sector that is primarily made up of privately-owned small aircraft and recreational aircraft.An additional, 22 non-fatal serious aircraft incidents and accidents

were reported with 12 occurring in January, and 10 in February.

The number of fatalities was sig-nificantly higher compared to the period in the last two years. On average there are about 20 fatal aircraft accidents per year. “We express our condolences to those

who have lost their loved ones. The SACAA is seriously con-cerned about the high number of accidents and fatalities that have taken place since the start of the year,” SACAA’s newly appointed Director of Civil Aviation Poppy Khoza said last Thursday.Continued on page 3.

Concerns over recent spate of aircraft accidents

2 The Bushveld Times THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014

Andri GodrichPeter CumberlegeKaren TilneyKos CoronaiosChris MartinPetro PretoriusElizabeth CombrinkAndries v/d WaltPeter BurroughesThe Marketing CompPrinters

EditorBusinessLifestyleAstronomyPhotographyHorticulturalistLife StyleMotoringMotoringGraphic DesignPaarl Media

DISTRIBUTION AREASAcornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Graskop,

Sabie, Hazyview, White River, Phalaborwa, Pilgrims Rest, Hoedspruit

WHO ARE WE?HOW TO CONTACT US

Editor: Andri GodrichTel: 083 774 2383Email: andri@bushveldtimes.co.zaAdvertising: info@bushveldtimes.co.zaWebsite: www.bushveldtimes.co.za

HELP US GET IT RIGHTThe Bushveld Times is committed to

bringing you news you can trust. If you spot mistakes in our stories, please

point them out to us.

A special thank you goes out to every sponsor and source for contributing to

The Bushveld Times

The Bushveld Times is the official media partner of:

To advertise in The Bushveld Times call us on 083 774 2383 or email: info@bushveldtimes.co.za

Wake yourself up on time, get the kids out of bed, persuade them that they really do want to go to school, get them dressed in clean clothes, tie shoe laces, pack lunches, fill juice bottles, check school and sports bags, find the missing school cap, make breakfast, leave kitchen in semi chaos, brush teeth, comb hair, change clothes after breakfast spills, get yourself dressed and search for the car keys.

Most mothers can relate to the pan-demonium when getting the kids ready and off to school on time. However, once in a while and much to your surprise, you actually hack it and decide to reward yourself with a cup of coffee before heading off to school. But as Murphy would have it – before you can celebrate your victory the kids find one of the fam-ily’s beloved pets has passed away overnight.

The joy of owning a pet regrettably goes hand-in-hand with the heart-break of losing one and that for our kids, can be very difficult. Children more often than not find comfort

and companionship when playing with or talking to their pets. While it’s natural to try and shelter kids from heartache it is almost impos-sible to protect them from the loss of a pet. All you can do is help them cope with it. Perhaps the griev-ing process will help them learn how best to cope with other losses throughout their lives.

Based on your child’s age and matu-rity you should decide how much of an explanation is needed and how much information they will expect from you. However allowing them to ask the questions would perhaps be a better route to take. We lost two bunnies in the past week but telling my young sons that a stray cat got hold of them would prob-ably have proved too much to bare. So I decided on a brief explanation

- bunny 1 went to bunny heaven af-ter an injury sustained from a loose piece of wire stuck to the cage and bunny 2, well that explanation will be needed after school today and I must admit I am not looking for-ward to it one bit.

From the desk of the Editor

People who would like to help can contact The Rhino Orphanage via pete@theazaleagroup.com or can make a do-nation directly into the below account;Account Name: Legend Rhino Orphan-ageBank: First National BankBranch: MokopaneCode: 260248Account Number: 62366479171

The origin of phrases-Crocodile tears-

The government and the Africa Network for

Animal Welfare (ANAW) made submissions for and against the proposed highway before the East African Court of Justice in Arusha, Tanzania, last week.

The Lawyer for ANAW, Saitabao Kanchory Mbalelo, said the con-struction of the road infringed the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community, because the initial intention was to construct a tarmacked road but this later changed to gravel. Mbalelo further

warned that the road would be haz-ardous to the environment and was a potential threat to wildlife in the area as it will interrupt their move-ments and migration.

Counsel for the United Republic of Tanzania Gabriel Malata submit-ted that there was no violation of the Treaty. He stated that after a feasibility study on impact assess-ment report, it decided to construct a gravel road for tourism and ad-ministrative purposes. Malata said

this would have no effect on the eco-system at Serengeti and add-ed that the road would facilitate the movement of tourists.

Serengeti Watch, which is provid-ing funding for ANAW’s case, has proposed an alternative route for the highway, which would require an extra hour of travel and bypass the migration route.

The Court is yet to deliver judge-ment.

Highway ‘won’t affect Serengeti eco-system’The Government of Tanzania has argued that a pro-posed highway across the Seren-geti National Park will have no effect on the eco-sys-tem at Serengeti.

by Chris MartinGeneral Manager - Rhino Revolu-tion

It has been six months since I took over the General Manager position at Rhino Revolution and I can’t be-lieve the progress we have made in the struggle to protect our rhino population. The way in which the Hoedspruit community has em-braced both Rhino Revolution and rhino conservation in general is immense. Wildlife tourism is the hub of the commercial wealth of Hoedspruit and it is only by joining together that we can win this war against the scourge of poaching.

Like many of you, I took a break over Christmas and visited family and friends in the UK. Whilst there, I arranged a number of meetings in both the UK and Dubai on my way back to South Africa. What became immediately obvious was that the full extent of the “war on poach-

ing” was not truly understood by many outside our country. That we are fast approaching the extinction date for the species was hard to ac-cept and the graphic nature of the violence inflicted by poachers had a sickening effect on many. They want to help, that message was emphatic.

One of the most challenging as-pects when it comes to the fight against rhino pouch-ing is the every present need for finance. In this regard I recently received incred-ible news that the Rhino Revolu-tion Golf Day at Fancourt, kindly sponsored by Annie Rose mother of US Open Champion Justin Rose, had raised the magnificent sum of R300,000. This was helped enor-mously by donations from Justin

himself. It’s magnificent to have Justin on board as a supporter of Rhino Revolution as he will un-doubtedly become an incredible ambassador for us in the years to come.

A further fundraising initiative took place in Dubai alongside Drs Johan Marais and Gerhard Steen-kamp from the “Sav-ing the Survivors” charity. We held the

event at the Dubai Marina and over 160 people attended with at least as many turned away due to space constraints. With the support of many Hoedspruit tourism opera-tors and local artists, we raised R200,000 from an auction which

will be shared between Rhino Rev-olution and Saving The Survivors.

On returning home, Patrick Jor-dan and I took part in a short pro-gramme filmed by Chinese Central TV as part of the International Con-ference of Wildlife Conservation chaired in London this week by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and hosted by Princes William and Harry. This presented us with a significant opportunity to showcase Hoedspruit together with our on-going struggle to protect the rhino.

I would like to end by thanking the Trustees of Rhino Revolution for their unselfish commitment and the many people of Hoedspruit who have supported us with such passion and enthusiasm. Please continue to wear your Rhino Revo-lution T-Shirts with pride and rest assured that we will continue the fight against rhino poaching with everything at our disposal.

Rhino Revolution takes its message to the World

“Please continue to wear your Rhino Revolution T-Shirts with pride and rest

assured that we will contin-ue the fight against rhino poaching with everything

at our disposal.

A display of superficial or false sorrow

The saying actually derives from a medieval belief that crocodiles shed tears of sadness while they killed and consumed their prey.

The myth dates back as far as the 14th century and comes from a book called “The Travels of Sir

John Mandeville.” Wildly popular upon its release, the tome recounts a brave knight’s adventures during his supposed travels through Asia. Among its many fabrications, the book includes a description of croc-odiles that notes, “These serpents slay men, and eat them weeping, and they have no tongue.” While factually inaccurate, Mandeville’s account of weeping reptiles later

found its way into the works of Shakespeare, and “crocodile tears” became an idiom as early as the 16th century.

Minister of Water and Environmen-tal Affairs, Edna Molewa, says she welcomes “some” of the provisions in the London Declaration on Ille-gal Wildlife Trade, but the agree-ment not to trade in wildlife products conflicts with existing South African policy. “We are fighting against rhino poaching and not against sustain-able utilisation. Any default policy change leading to non-utilisation, done in the name of anti-poaching is clearly problematic as it goes against our principles of sustainable utilisation,” Molewa said.

The declaration was signed following a conference on illegal wildlife trade held in the UK earlier this month. The conference was attended by leaders from countries including the US, Canada, China and Vietnam. Af-rican countries represented included Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. SA’s absence was met with criticism. Ac-cording to the department of Water and Environmental Affairs, SA could not be represented at the confer-ence due to the opening of parlia-ment.

“Our non-attendance of the confer-ence should not be construed as a decline in the government’s com-mitment to addressing the scourge of rhino poaching, or an indication of apathy or a move towards isola-tion on this important issue,” said Molewa.

SA’s absence met with criticism

Weekly Poll ResultsWhat percentage of South

Africans do you think have not registered to vote?

1. 10 - 20 %2. 20 - 40 %

3. More than 50 % Apologies - no results due to web-

site being under maintenance

THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014 The Bushveld Times 3

Visit our Facebook page onwww.facebook.com/The-BushveldTimes

Answers to Brain Teaser Find the Brain Teaser on page 5

1. Sign representing a complete word like the ‘$’ sign2. House numbers3. They cannot vomit4. It was all invented by woman5. Shouting6. Barbers7. Elephant8. Archery9. Rover10. Monogamous11. Walk backwards12 South Africa13. Clowns14. Bats

ADVERTISE IN

Extremely competitive rates

One advert published em-braces 9 Lowveld towns.

Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Graskop, Hazyview, Hoed-spruit, Pilgrims Rest, Phal-

aborwa, Sabie & White River

The largest single newspaper distributor in the region

Distribution in high density traffic residential, commer-cial and business locations

The Bushveld Times is com-plimentary

Proudly South African

Potgieter BouersGrondverskuiwing, Sand, klip en stene, Bouwerk

NEW: We now also stock Clay Bricks and supply and install single and double bevel pavers in all sort of colours

Year end SPECIAL from 1st MarchOn the following building supplies:

Building sand River sand Cement bricks19mm Crusher stone 13mm Crusher stoneBuilding sand River sand Cement bricks19mm Crusher stone 13mm Crusher stone

If you need pricing please contact us on 015 793 1634 or 082 922 4206Fax 015 793 2356 e-mail: potbouers@mailbox.co.za

Assuming that one has a healthy respect for croco-diles on the ground and as far as discoveries go, this has to be particu-larly scary one. They can climb and perch in trees. They can really climb, with researchers spotting them more than a dozen feet off the ground. While anecdotal reports have placed the reptiles in trees in Mississippi, Colombia, and along the Nile, only three references to such behavior appear in scientific literature. As a result researchers set out to determine whether it was a regular practice by observing crocodilians (which includes crocs and alligators) on three continents: Australia, Africa, and North Ameri-ca.

What they found, as reported in Herpetology Notes was that four species were able to climb trees and were spotted, in once case,

as high as 13 feet above the ground and as far as 16 feet down a branch. Getting there meant scaling “a completely vertical bank and then walk-ing amongst the branches to reach the end of the tree,”

wrote the team, led by Uni-versity of Tennessee researcher

Vladimir Dinets. Another observa-tion, made along the Nile, was that crocodiles were seen in the trees as often as some birds were. The crocodiles were observed climbing trees (and, in one case in Australia, trying to climb a chain-link fence) during day and night, typically in

“areas where there were few places to bask on the ground, implying that the individuals needed alter-natives for regulating their body temperature,” they wrote. Smaller crocs could go higher and further than their larger counterparts and all were somewhat skittish. When approached, they jumped or fell into the water

Do crocodiles climb trees?

African LilySelf catering suites

35 Palm Ave opposite Engen

Accommodation in PhalaborwaCell: 076 101 5657

africanlilylodge@gmail.com | www.africanlily.co.za

Mason Pool Centre‘Your pool - our concern’

NEW POOLS | POOL RENOVATIONSPOOL PLUMBING |PUMP & FILTER REPAIRS & INSTALLATIONS | MARBLITING & POOL TILING | CALL 076 863 0027

Short Term InsuranceAll Domestic/Commercial/Motor

& Bush Lodge Insurance RequirementsChris Tilney | 082 689 0937ctilney.broker@gmail.comGriffin Risk Management

Out of sight & out of mind?The Bushveld Times will change that

We will offer you the best possible advertising ratesWe promise to distribute 6,000 + copies of your adWe will circulate your ad

in 9 targeted Lowveld townstowns

We will deliver to high volume traffic locations

in each townWe guarantee to keep

the newspaper complimentary for

consumersconsumers

Get your word out now! Advertising from as little as R125 per edition

Weekly Poll:In your opinion what effect

would the proposed highway have on the Serengeti? (Read

related article on page 2)None, It would cause minor

damage, It would spell disaster.Please leave your comments on

our Facebook page, our website is undergoing maintenance.

Continued from front page. The Department is working closely with Provincial Departments to estab-lish a livestock identification and traceability system in Foot and Mouth Disease areas. This will allow us to track and trace every animal in contaminated areas, with each animal receiving a uniquely coded, tamper-proof tag.

National Treasury has agreed to fund the construction of a state of the art veterinary Institute, un-der the auspices of the Agricul-tural Research Council (the ARC), at a cost of nearly R500 million.

Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), which is a state owned company, has also been sup-ported with funds to strengthen its capacity. Construction work on a vaccine production facility is at an advanced stage, and once com-pleted will significantly strengthen our disease management systems. This will allow for the production of much-needed vaccines, including for Foot and Mouth Disease, which we are currently importing from Botswana. We will not only be self-sufficient but will also share the Af-rican market with our neighbours, in accordance with the recommen-

dations of SADC.

Young scientists are being recruit-ed by the Agricultural Research Council (the ARC) to undertake post-graduate studies and research, which will build our capac-ity as a country to deal with FMD and other crop and animal health issues.

She said that these are just some of the inter-ventions that the Department will be implementing to assure the OIE, the South African agriculture sector

and the international community of their seriousness in dealing with Foot and Mouth Disease, and plant and animal health in general. They are also co-operating closely with

the Department of Home Affairs in ensuring that

our border controls are more effective, and that meat and other prohibited products are not

posing a risk to our agricultural sector.

The Scientific Commission has agreed that an expert mission will be conducted in December this year, which will verify that the

required measures have indeed been fully implemented. The FMD control areas in Limpopo, Mpuma-langa and Kwa-Zulu Natal will be inspected. We look forward to re-ceiving and hosting this mission, and will ensure that we deliver on our commitments.

She thanked the Department - led by the Director General, Professor Edith Vries - for its dedication and hard work, provinces for their co-operation, stakeholders and farm-ers for working with us and achiev-ing this major milestone. It has been a long and cold three years

– but the future of our red meat in-dustry beckons once again.

Ban on SA meat exports lifted

“An-imals in con-

taminated areas will receive a uniquely

coded, tamper-proof tag.

Continued from pg 1. “The ques-tion of whether accidents are caused by man or machine was asked. Statistics illustrate that fac-tors related to piloting present the single most common cause of ac-cidents. It is thus logical to ensure that a significant part of our efforts to reduce accidents are directed at ‘human error’ challenges faced by pilots,” Khoza explained. The plan also looks at what categories of pilots are responsible for acci-dents. Data from serious incident and accident investigation reports indicate that pilots with fewer than 500 flying hours are responsible for most accidents. According to Khoza, the CFARP will, among other things, attempt to maximise the development of pilot airman-ship. It has become apparent that the entry requirements for the ap-proval of training schools are wide open; and this appears to have contributed to the establishment of training schools approximately ten times the number of those in other developed countries,” said Khoza.

SACAA is considering the introduc-tion of a standardised induction programme for all student pilots. Currently, the authority does not di-rectly verify the claimed proficiency of any of the pilot candidates, it is examined through designated flight examiners that do not form part of the regulatory authority. SAnews

Concerns over re-cent spate of air-craft accidents

Pratley Putty - Pratley’s famous glue is the only South African in-vention that has been to the moon. In 1969 the putty was used to hold bits of the Apollo XI mission’s Eagle landing craft together.

Krugersdorp engineer George Pratley invent-ed his famous sticky stuff in the 1960s while

looking for a glue that would hold components in an electrical box. Pratley died in 1983 and today the company is run by his son, Kim.

Hundreds of tons of Pratley putty have been exported all over the world, and the com-pany has diversified into other products.

Whats UP in February

4 The Bushveld Times THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014

Africa Nature Training WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE 2014

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIS MARTIN WILDLIFE

Join us for a fully catered weekend of learning and practising the basics of wildlife Photography from a guiding perspective at ANT’s trails camp

in one of South Africa’s most biodiversity-rich areas adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park.

Course presented in workshop fashion by: Chris MartinDates: 6 – 8 June /or/ 19 – 21 September 2014Venue: Nkombe campLocation: Sabi Sands Private Game ReserveAccommodation: 3x3m rip-stop canvas tent, bed with high density foam mattressCost per person: R 5,000 Maximum intake: 6 peopleContact: chris.martin@me.com

In association with CHRIS MARTIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Best possible advertising ratesYour ad will circulate in 9 Lowveld towns

Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Graskop,Hazyview,Hoedspruit, Pilgrims Rest,

Phalaborwa, Sabie & White River

Advertising from as little as R125 per edition

Can’t afford too but can’t afford not too??The Bushveld Times understands your dilemma

Using your Camera’s HistogramBy Chris Martin

A histogram .. what’s that I hear you ask? Well you know that weird and complicated looking graph that appears on your digital LCD screen at the back of your camera? Well that’s it!! Most photographers get rid of it only to use their LCD screen as a “image preview” facility, but it’s there to help you. And help you it can, in a very big way, if you only spend a few minutes to take a look at how it works.

Firstly, relying on the human eye to judge exposure on a very small screen, which in most cases is just a few centimetres wide, is quite some task. Hence the camera manufacturers have taken steps to make life all the more easier for us in mastering the exposure of our images. Welcome to the histogram!! Essentially it is nothing more than a graph with its “centre axis” in the middle of your screen which details the tonal range of your photograph. Images that contain a lot of contrast or dark sections, perhaps a sunset image such as the one below, will show on the graph as being to the left of centre.

Conversely, those with a lot of brightness will appear with a graph peaking to the right of the centre axis indicating a degree of over-exposure something that is so very easy to do shooting as we do in the bright light of an african summers

day. So, the million dollar ques-tion!! “What is the perfect read-ing on your histogram”? The good news is there is no such thing, It is essentially down to the image you are trying to capture. It is true to

say that an image that peaks at the centre, or just either side of the axis on your histogram, will be evenly balanced with light and dark tones. But in saying this, there are occa-sions when we deliberately look to under or over expose our images for effect and there is a simple rule of thumb that you should be aware of in doing so. If you underexpose (ie your histogram peaks to the left of centre) you will be left with

a darker image. Don’t fear, you can, in your post processing, re-cover much of the detail from the dark shadowy sections in this type of shot. Sadly, that is not the case if you overexpose your image to

the right of centre on your histogram. Much of your colour detail will be burned out and will show as a whitish tone in your image. Recovery of this detail is sadly very near impossible.

As a general rule, I have got into the habit of dialling in a degree of under-exposure, espe-cially in those winter

months when the bush is looking very monotone and burned out. Breathe a bit of life back into your images with some nice tonal ad-justments to the light brown earth and grasses. I always try to get it right “in camera” as opposed to relying on software to correct it at a later stage. If you get it wrong in camera, and you have dialled in a little bit too much under-exposure, as I mentioned above it generally easy to put right to a pleasing level for your final image.

So once again, the manufactures have given us the technology, and making perfectly exposed images has never been easier. Give it a try and see how you get on. I can promise a major improvement in the quality of your images if you do!

An asteroid estimated to be the size of three football fields whizzed close to Earth earlier this month, roughly a year after one explod-ed over Russia and injured 1200 people. Slooh Space Camera tracked the approach of the asteroid as it raced past the planet at about 27 000 mph (43 000 kmph), starting at 9pm EST (2am GMT, Feb. 18), the robotic tele-scope service said in a statement on Slooh.com. The Dubai Astronomy Group provided Slooh photos of the part of the sky where the rock was expected to be seen, but its motion could not be picked out immediately in a live webcast against the backdrop of night-time stars.

The 270m asteroid was streaking past Earth at a distance of about 2.1 million miles (3.4 million km) little more than a year

after another asteroid exploded on Feb. 15, 2013, over Chelyabinsk, Russia. That asteroid injured 1 200 people following a massive shock wave that shattered windows and damaged buildings. Chelyabinsk region officials had wanted to mark the anniversary by giving a piece of the meteorite to each of the 2014 Winter Olympic athletes who

won a medal on that day at the Sochi Games. How-

ever the International Olympic Committee, at the last minute, said it could be done only after the games and separately.

Slooh’s flagship ob-servatory on Mount

Teide in Spain’s Canary Is-lands was iced over and unable to be used for the 2000 EM26 view-ing, Paul Cox, Slooh’s technical and research director, said on the one-hour webcast. “We continue to discover these potentially haz-ardous asteroids - sometimes only days before they make their close approaches to Earth,” Cox said in a statement before the show. He added, “We need to find them be-fore they find us!” - Reuters

270m asteroid streaks past Earth

“We con-tinue to discover

these potentially haz-ardous asteroids - some-times only days before they make their close

approaches to Earth

The North West Provincial Govern-ment will donate 14 Black rhino to Botswana, Premier Thandi Modise announced this week. Modise said that approval of the donation of eight cows and six bulls had been made on the understanding that

once the Botswana Black rhino population had grown and stabi-lised and the security of South Af-rican rhino had equally stabilised, the founder population would be retrieved. The offspring would be shared equally.

In line with the agreement en-dorsed by Exco and the Depart-ment of Water and Environmental Affairs, all capture and transloca-tion costs of the rhinos, estimated to cost about R1 million, would be borne by the Ministry of Environ-ment Wildlife and Tourism of the Republic of Botswana.

Another 14 Rhino’s donated to Botswana

Best time to see Mercury and Venus | March (before dawn)9 - 10 March | Moon near Jupiter

On the 22 February the constella-tion of Orion (The Hunter) was be well positioned for viewing. Double stars abound as well as quadruple ones and the constellation has many areas with nebulosity excited by young hot B-type stars. Astrono-mers believe that the dust and gas around the constellation Orion/Monoceros region is a mixture of

“raw” materials out of which stars form. One of these regions is close to the last star on the eastern side of the three that form the belt of The Hunter, called Alnitak or zeta Orio-nis. This 2nd magnitude star has two companions, making it a triple system lying around 735 light years from us.

In the above image taken by U.K. astrophotographer Doug Sharpe, the star lies above NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) a cloud of hot gas bisected by a lane of dust (bottom left of the image). To the right of the star is IC 434 with the famous Horsehead Nebula (B33),looking more like a seahorse than a proper horse

During the last week in January, South Africa’s longest running and most suc-cessful schools-based food garden-ing programme, EduPlant, began the year with five one-day workshops in

each province, 45 workshops that will reach thousands of educators. These workshops aim to provide educators with tangible ways to support the es-timated 40% of learners who are un-dernourished and therefore unable to learn properly. For the learners, edu-cators and community members who attend these workshops, poverty and

unemployment are eroded as they gain valuable skills that use local and available resources to transform dust-bowls into food forests.

“Our workshops help schools use the resources that they already have to create permaculture food gardens,” says Joanne Carty, EduPlant pro-gramme manager. SA the Good News

Schools learn to create food-rich environments

Mastering Exposure

Hoedspruit - 015 793 0248

Unfortunately not all of us were born with green fingers…. Some people have the “touch” and man-age to keep their gardens and pot plants looking beautiful throughout the year or maybe they just know how to take good care of them. On the other hand, we also know of those who by just looking at a plant, manage to somehow make it with-er and die - even a vase of plastic flowers!! For those of us without the

“touch” perhaps buying plants that are proven to survive, is a good so-lution.

Here are a few ideas - The Philodendron is a tropical plant

which requires some sun, but this can

be achieved by letting it sit outside during the day or by using artificial light within your home. It can go for days without being watered, but does prefer warm moist air. In any case, this is a hard plant to ruin.

The Jade plant has out-of-the-or-dinary leaves and pink flowers that bloom during the winter. It only requires a little sunlight and doesn’t need a lot of care. It’s the perfect plant as it won’t die easily no matter how much you neglect it.

Croton – al-though this plant has nothing else but leaves, it adds a good amount of colour to any bland room in your home. These plants need more light than most, but stay colourful throughout the year. Make sure you water them sufficiently as drying out will dam-age them.

The Spider plant is probably one of the most common house plants

and is decidedly different in looks. Its pointed long leaves eventually bud into flowers that then die and turn into smaller spider plants. The spider plant loves a lot of bright light and can withstand almost any temperature. It doesn’t need to be watered every day, but in the sum-mer watering is important.

Watering plants is a key part of keeping them alive and, since most of them can’t talk, it can be hard to know exactly when to and when not to water them - more

especially if you’re no gardening expert. Howev-

er the Peace Lily does sort of talk to you - its leaves will start to wilt

letting you know that it is dying of thirst. The Peace Lily doesn’t need much light and is marked by leaves that produce a tall white flower.

Die hard pot plants

Left: Philedendron. Right: Peace Lilly

Tip of the week – Does your Bougainvillea need a kick-start?

Mix one spoon of good old Handy Andy with 3 litres of water and dampen your plant with the mix-

ture. It helps promote the growth of both the leaves and the flowers.

A number of valid reasons can be given

for the below average per-formance of children at many of our schools. These would include the education department not delivering books on time, teachers not perform-ing at the level expected of them and children suffering from attention deficit disorder or hyper activity. But more often than not the foremost reason for lower cognitive perfor-mance is overlooked, dehydration.

What is equally interesting is that the level of dehydration does not need to be severe. Studies done in the United States, on a group of people, showed that even mild dehydration resulted in impaired attention and a slowing down of cognitive functions and physical movement. Another study done on school children, aged 9-11 years, showed that short term memory was affected in a group of children who did not drink water dur-ing the school day. Fluid intake is not only derived from what we drink but as much as 20% is obtained from the food that we eat. The best way to consume this fluid is in a decaffein-ated, non-alcoholic and non-caloric form, i.e. water. Every gram of car-bohydrate, protein, fat and fibre that is consumed needs water in order to be digested and transported through the body. It is good to have up to two glasses of water each morning before your day starts.There are a number of ways to calculate your daily water requirement. A basic

guideline is for kids (4 to 8 years) to consume 1.2 litres per day. Girls aged 9 to 13 years 1.4 litres, boys at that age need up to 1.6 litres. Girls and boys between the age group 14 to 18 years need up to 1.6 and 1.9 litres of water respectably. Adult woman and men need up to 2.1 and 2.6 litres of water per day respect-ably. In places with warmer climates more water is required. People who eat more protein rich foods (meat, fish, chicken, etc.) also need to drink more water.

People who drink more water, con-sume fewer calories from other food sources. Water consumers eat up to 2 slices of bread’s calories less than non-water consumers. In addi-tion, water consumers generally eat fewer salty snacks, non-dairy caloric beverages, fast food, high-fat meats and sweets.Water is required for most bodily functions. If you do not drink enough water you can literally feel it in your bones. Dehydration leads to de-creased lubrication of cushion joints; which in turn could increase joint pains and gout (increased uric acid concentration). Water intake aids digestion and prevents constipation. Urination helps to clear the bladder of bacteria and dehydration could contribute to urinary tract infection in woman.

For more information you could send an e-mail to elizabeth@diet-pro.co.za or phone 013-752 3540

HEALTHY LIVINGImprove your child’s memory

THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014 The Bushveld Times 5

Brown rice has seven layers con-taining vitamins, minerals, en-zymes, protein, carbohydrate, fat and fibre. When rice is processed, the outer layers, the husk and the germ are discarded leaving only the central white part consisting of carbohydrate and some protein. The final polishing of the white rice removes any last trace of minerals, B vitamins and most of the protein.

Wholegrain rice - brown rice - has only the indigestible husk removed; all the nutrients remain. Unpol-ished brown rice is the best to use.

Short-grain brown rice rehydrates the system and retains its nutri-ents better upon cooking. It is thus easier to digest and cooks to a creamier texture, which is why it is suitable for risottos. It has a lovely nutty flavour. Alternatively, brown Basmati rice can be used. Wild rice is native to North America and be-longs to a different botanical family. It contains twice as much protein as white rice. Mix wild rice with brown rice for variation and cost-effectiveness. Cook brown rice in more or less double the quantity of water with a little unrefined salt. To ensure the rice retains its nutrients, all the water must be absorbed. It’s best to slightly undercook the rice and then to steam it in a sieve or colander over water until the rest of the meal is ready. Gluten-freeserves 6 to 8

Ingredients1 cup (250 ml) brown rice1 cup (250 ml) brown or green len-

tils½ cup (125 ml) extra-virgin olive oil2 tbsp (30 ml) fermented soy sauce or organic Tamari sauce3 tbsp (45 ml) freshly-squeezed lemon juice½ tsp (2 ml) finely grated fresh root ginger 1 tsp (5 ml) raw honey½ pineapple, sliced into rounds and diced2 stalks table celery, chopped1 green or red pepper, seeded and diced a big handful fresh parsley, chopped½ cup (125 ml) seedless raisins or sultanas2 carrots, coarsely grated1 cup (250 ml) mung bean or lentil sprouts6 spring onions, chopped½ cup (125 ml) sunflower seeds or almond slivers, toasted or raw (op-tional)½ tsp (2 ml) unrefined saltfreshly-ground black pepper, to

taste

Place rice and lentils together in a deep-sided saucepan with 1 ℓ salt-ed water and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, until cooked, dry and fluffy. Drain the rice and lentils and place in a bowl.Whisk together the oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, ginger and honey and fork into hot rice and lentils. Add pineapple, celery, peppers, parsley, raisins or sultanas, carrots, sprouts and onions. Toss all the ingredients well and allow the flavours to infuse for 30 minutes.Season to taste.Just before serving, fork in the sun-flower seeds, or sprinkle toasted almond slivers over the salad.

This information appears in Naturally Nutritious Wholefood

Cookbook by Heidi du Preez and Karen Werge Tilney, pub-

lished by Natural Nutrition

Recipe of the week Brown rice, lentil & pineapple salad

Brain TeaserFind the answers on page 3

1. What is a logogram?2. What idea began in London in 1764?3. What links horses rabbits and rats?4. What links fire escapes, wind-

shield wipers and bullet proof vests?5. A Klazomaniac cant stop doing what?6. What job is most likely to make the practitioner an alcoholic?7. September 22 is National what appreciation day?8. A Lady Paramount judges at what sport

9. Mickey Mouse’s Pluto had what name when he first appeared10. 90% of bird species are ...?11. Kangaroos and Emus can’t do what?12. What country has three capital cities Admin, Legislate & Judicial13. Johnny Depp is afraid of what?14. What animal has the best hearing?

Call Matthew on 084 208 2111matt@africansafariguru.co.za www.roadtransfers.com

SAFARI GURUAfricanNeed a good accountant?

Above: Croton

What hapenned on this day...

1997 Divorce becomes legal in the predominantly catholic country of Ireland1997 England - Handgun Legisla-tion: New legislation banning most handguns in Britain went into effect helping to make the strictest

gun legislation in the world with self-defence not consid-ered a valid reason to own a gun

Your FREE Business Directory6 The Bushveld Times THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014

List your Business here for FREE email info@bushveldtimes.co.za

HS: Hoedspruit. PB: Phalaborwa. GK: Graskop. WR: White River. S: Sabie. PR: Pilgrim’s Rest.

HV: Hazyview. L: Lowveld RegionAgricultureLaeveld Trekkers 015 793 1701AccommodationHS: Jolyne B&B 072 197 1759HS: Mica Contractors Accommodation 079 069 7700HS: African Rock Lodge 084 555 4875HS: Wild Fig Furnished Apartments 083 977 9678HS: Wild Fig Unfurnished Apartments 083 977 9678HS: Laerskool Mariepskop 083 231 4778HS: Zandspruit Bush & Aero Estate 083 977 9678ArchitectsHS:ENOMIS DESIGNS 015 793 0009L: ZAS Architectural Designs 072 055 2150BeautyHS: Bliss Hair and Beauty 072 271 4006BrokersMV Brokers 082 851 6743CarwashHS:Kamogelo Carwash 072 775 5827ComputersL:ProgramIT (Sales) 082 979 1615L:GCJ-IT 074 317 4076ChemicalsL: Momar Chemicals 081 567 7460ConstructionL: Zandspruit Construction 082 449 8895L: Savanha Construction 015 793 0009CouriersL: Doulos Couriers 083 355 3426 L: Hoedspruit Couriers 082 566 0889Emergency NumbersHS: Hoedspruit Farm Watch 072 310 0032HS: Hoedspruit Medical Rescue 072 170 0864EntertainmentHS: Starlight DVD 015 793 0248HS: Jessica the Hippo 082 958 7861EducationPhalaborwa Academy School 015 7817549FashionHS: Sole Comfort 015 001 7089HS: Khaki Fever 015 793 1762HS: Earth Angel 082 533 6541FurnitureHS: Beares 015 793 1918Flight TrainingAirborne African Adventures 078 417 6518Flight Training & Safaris 015 793 0348FloristHarvest Gifts & Groceries 082 817 7461FinancialWestwood Accountants 015781 7549LegalSteyn & Clarke Prokereurs 015 793 0258

Medical ServicesHS: Marile Landman Oogkundiges 082 803 0369HS: Hypnotherapist 082 683 2835HS: Dr. Gerhardus Venter 072 797 3785HS: Counselling/Functional Therapy 082 787 4471MotorHS: Varta Powerzone Batteries 015 793 2448Training and Skills DevelopmentPB: Training Force Phalaborwa 015 781 6280Under TrainingHS: Studies in Functional Therapy 082 787 4471Plant & Tool HireHS: Thomsons Plant Hire 082 836 5609Pool ServicesHS: Lopes Pools 015 793 0166Masons Pools 072 791 5761Azul Pools 082 765 9163Real EstateHS: Remax 015 793 0108HS: Zandspruit Sales Agency 083 977 9678HS: Kruger 2 Canyon Properties 015 793 0766RestaurantsHS: Safari Club 015 793 1001WR: Brie Street Deli & Bistro 013 750 2026HS: Sleepers Railway Restaurant 015 793 1014HS: Three Bridges Restaurant & Pub 079 912 9416S: Ayesha’s Deli Sabie 083 887 5548ServicesHS: Niche Cleaning Services 073 4732690HS: ‘Greensol Plumbing 015 793 1659 & Air-Conditioning’ L: KST Refrigeration & 083 255 3120AirconditioningHS: H.P.C Termite Specialists 084 321 2912HS: Hoedspruit Feeds 076 556 9280HS: Devine Cleaning Corp 083 774 2383HS: Laundry and Upholstery Cleaning 083 525 9890HS: Brush-Strokes 078 304 2034P.K’s Locksmiths 082 451 4474Extreme Spitbraai 082 451 4474Handyman Solutions 082 448 2211Jeannie C. Photography 082 767 5901GK: Jonkel Carbons 013 767 1820HS: Snyman Voere 087 802 1162HS: Mantis Pest Control 083 938 6158Stationery :)HS: Program IT (Sales) 082 979 1615TravelHS: Century Safari’s 015 793 0259L: Dot Travel 082 501 5225Restaurants

PLEASE NOTE: Send us your company name, contact details as well as the area you provide your services in. If we get it wrong

please help us get it right!

Down MemoryLane with The Star

An extract from The Star

The 1880’s – The CampJohannesburg’s story really begins in the Spring of 1853 when Pieter Jakob Marais twice panned alluvial gold in the Jukskei River not far north of the Witwatersrand Ridge. For 30 years and more prospectors kept coming back to the ridge be-lieving there just had to be a mother lode there somewhere. It turned out to be well south of the ridge in the course grassveld that characterises the Transvaal Highveld. The earlier diggers had been misled by the daz-zling white quartz in the ridge itself

– those shining rocks which gave the “white watershed” its name.

One Sunday in February of 1886, on a farm called Langlaagte 6 km from the ridge, George Harrison, a stone-mason, stumbled on an outcrop of crumbling lichen-speckled rock. He noticed it contained pudding stone (banket), an almost certain sign of gold. Harrison, an old-hand prospec-tor from Australia, crushed a sample, panned it, and saw a glistening tail of gold. He had discovered the Main Reef, a gold reef whose wealth was to excite the imagination of men across the world – as well as the greed of men. George Harrison’s reward was a free gold-seeker’s licence which he soon sold for 10 pounds. Nobody knows what happened to him after

that.

His discovery – 100 years ago – caused a city to grow and that city to cause a war, a war that gave rise to a nation. And the gold never ran out

“Like it was 1887 – 1987”

Crossword 17

Crossword answers edition 17

Down:1. Laeveld Trekkers sell it(10)2. There is no place like (4)4. Infested with lice (5)5. Seafood restaurant in Hazyview (5)7. Cinema in White River (12)9. A pool company doing marblit-ing (6)11. Not Adam (3)13. Chris Tilney can offer this ser-vice to you (9)14. Amiss (4)15. They are offering an end of year special from March (9)18. A spring containing health giv-ing properties (3)21. Not the bush (5)25. A person that persistantly bor-rows from others (3)26. porgieter sand now stock these bricks (4)28. Push or poke (3)29. No longer fresh (3)

Across:3. No more a planet (5)6. Happening at the end of March in Polokwane (3)7. A die hard pot pant (5)8. A white alkine sunstance (4)10. Their take aways can’t be delivered by train (8)12. Proposed highway in this area (9)16. Not a type of wood and ac-countant (8)17. To throw (4)19.A low quality newspaper (3)20. A clog with a deposit (3) 21. To show ownership (7)22. A soft pear shaped fruit (3)23. Lodge between White River and Nelspruit (5)24. Ken’s girlfriend (6)27. Kayaking on this river is an adventure of a lifetime (5)30. Striking31. Favourites to win Natal Rally (4)32. Lodge in Phalaborwaor a flower (4)

The answers will be provided in Edition 18

Specializing in: -

Please contact Adrian on 072 324 4762or email: Ai.construction@gmail.com

Wooden Decking & BalustradesWooden Cladding

Deck DesignThatch Repairs

Thatch Roofing and Repairs Restorations

Deck Design

4

31

78 16

375

3 8 7 1

5 9 3 22 1

67

51

97 8

6

1 2 3 4 56 7

8 9 10 11

12 1314 15

16

17 18 1920

21 2223

24 25 26

27 28 2930 31

32

Most of the answers can be found within the advertisements of this edition

Advertise in this space from as little as R200

We will offer you the best possible advertising ratesWe promise to distribute 6,000 + copies of your ad

We will circulate your ad in 9 targeted Lowveld townsAcornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Graskop, Hazyview, Hoedspruit,

Pilgrims Rest, Phalaborwa, Sabie & White RiverWe will deliver to high volume traffic locations in each town

We guarantee to keep the newspaper complimentary for consumersWe guarantee to keep the newspaper complimentary for consumersNot restricted by cost to the consumer and

therefore extensively widely read

One Small Step for The Bushveld TimesOne Giant Leap for

Your Business

SA Expand HIV Treatment ProgrammeSouth Africa aims to increase the number of people on its state antiretroviral (ARV) treatment programme to at least 4.6-mil-lion people over the next 5 years, says President Zuma. Delivering his State of the Nation address to Parliament in Cape Town, Zuma said that the turnaround in the South Africa’s HIV/Aids programme - now being used as a model by the United Nations Aids Programme (UNAids) - was one the country’s biggest achievements over the past five years. There had been a decline in the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while

the number of South Africans receiving free anti-retroviral treatment had grown from one-million in 2009 to 2.4-million people in 2013. More than 20-million South Africans have been voluntarily tested for HIV since the launch of the government’s HIV coun-selling and testing programme in 2010.

“Life expectancy is now on an upward trend. South Africans are now living longer,” Zuma said, adding: “While celebrating our success, we must not be complacent. The prevention work must continue.” The President noted that the country would soon enter a new phase in the implementation of the National Health Insurance programme, which will ex-tend quality healthcare to the poor - SAnews

THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014 The Bushveld Times 7

Business and the Law

By Peter Cumberlege

I appear to have a fixation about marriage at the moment for some reason. I also used a marital exam-ple in the article for small business in this week’s edition of The Bush-veld Times. Perhaps it is because I am single and subconsciously need to change this state of “af-fairs” – oops wrong word, perhaps it would be better to say situation.

Anyway, it is often inter-esting to have a debate with friends, espe-cially married friends, about pre-nups and the pros and cons attached to the idea. Those against, nor-mally come up with the argument that if you suggest a pre-nup to your partner, he or she will immediately feel threatened and feel that there is a lack of trust be-tween you or that you are hiding something or that, in the back of your mind, you don’t believe that the marriage will reach that point of

“till death do us part”.

Those in favour however, usually come up with a very practical ar-gument supporting the notion that although you are both madly in love and can’t wait to get married, there is absolutely no guarantee that things will remain so for the rest of your lives. There is always an outside chance that things will go wrong and that, for whatever reason, you may part company. Personally I believe that a pre-nup is smart if for no other reason than, in the unlikely event that you and your partner decide to call it a day, you both know exactly where you stand and so do the lawyers that will inevitably become involved.At this stage you are probably won-dering what pre-nups have to do with business and the law. Well,

in my opinion a pre-nup can be likened to a letter of appointment provided by an employer to an em-ployee when commencing work. The only difference between the two is that a letter of appointment is a legal requirement in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employ-ment Act whereas a pre-nup is voluntary. Both however provide essential information with regards the expectations of the relationship going forward – no surprises and no future mystery.

It never ceases to amaze me how many employers do not provide their employees with letters of ap-pointment. Notwithstanding that it is a legal requirement; it makes total and obvious sense to do so. But, as with newly-weds, all is bliss when first the employee is en-gaged and both parties are looking

forward to a long, happy and rewarding relationship.

“Such a nice guy, such good references, he or she will do wonders for our business”. “Always wanted to work here, can learn so much from them, possibilities for pro-motion are great, the

money is excellent”. This is all well and good

until something goes wrong. What then? With no

letter of appointment to turn to and therefore no written reference point, you end up with the inevita-ble “he said she said” scenario and, when matters deteriorate as they inevitably do; the only course of action is to turn to a third party to sort it out. It then becomes, without doubt, a lengthy, frustrating, costly and upsetting process from which neither party escapes unscathed.

If you are an employer and if, for whatever reason, you have not provided your employees with a letter of appointment, I would sug-gest that you do so today. There is no doubt that if you do, you will be extremely grateful at some stage in the future – that’s a guarantee from me. It does not have to be a com-plicated document and you can find any number of examples by using that magic resource called “Google” or by referencing the Basic Condi-tions of Employment Act. Well that it for this edition and remember – keep legal.

‘Till death do us part’

By Peter Cumberlege

How often are we totally amazed when a married couple we have known fairly well over a number of years, suddenly announce that they have separated and are getting a divorce. Usually we say things such as “never thought it would happen to them” or “they seemed to be such a happy couple”. Well, as the old adage says – never judge a book by its cover. What appears to be hunky dory on the surface may not necessarily be so behind closed doors.

However, a situation such as this con-firms that most of us are taken in, to some degree or another, by appearances and first impressions. Exactly the same scenario will occur when a consumer visits your business for the first time. Rightly or wrongly, the “cover” or visual

impact of your busi-ness will be extreme-

ly important when it comes to gaining the initial trust of a consumer. When entering a shop, hotel, business or an office for the first time, the initial feel and look will more often than not dic-tate whether the consumer will decide to do business with you. Take a close look at the “cover” of your business. How welcoming does it feel? Does it have the appearance of being profes-sional and efficient? Is it relaxing and friendly or intimidating and angry? Is it spacious and light or cramped and

dark? Will it make a potential client feel that he or she is definitely in the right place? And remember, first impres-sions are almost always long lasting.

A while back when driving through a small town in the Free State, I felt like a break and a nice cup of coffee. Spot-ting a little restaurant in the main street I decided to investigate. First impres-sions were good - it looked neat, tidy, clean and friendly. On entering the lit-tle coffee shop I immediately felt com-fortable as, looking around, I could see and feel the love and attention to detail that had gone into setting up the shop – and the coffee was great as well. Have no doubt that whenever I visit the town in the future, there is only one place I will have my coffee. And of course I have already told all my friends about it.

So, my suggestion is that you all take a little time to step back and take a closer look at the “cover” of your busi-ness. And remember, you don’t have to spend a fortune in order to create a feel of confidence and efficiency.

By Peter Cumberlege

Many of the readers will no doubt own, manage or work in a business that sells products and or services to consumers. In so doing, you will undoubtedly be aware of the many requirements that the Consumer Protection Act places on your busi-ness. Section 26 of the Act, for example, deals with sales records

and requires that a supplier must provide a written record of each transaction to the consumer to whom any goods or services are supplied. In addition, this provision states specifically what information should be reflected on the record of sale.

Although most of the larger prod-uct and service providers do sup-ply consumers with a sales record of some form, it amazes me as to how many do not include all of the information required under the Act. In addition, many of the smaller businesses do not supply a sales record at all. In terms of the law, there are only two exceptions to this requirement – firstly that the consumer expressly does not re-quire a sales record and secondly that the supplier of the goods or services is a “hawker” as defined in the act.

A sales record must include at least the following information -The supplier’s full name, or regis-

tered business name, VAT registra-tion number, if anyThe address of the premises at which, or from which, the goods or services were suppliedThe date on which the transaction occurredA name or description of any goods or services supplied or to be sup-pliedThe unit price of any particular goods or services supplied or to be suppliedThe quantity of any particular goods or services supplied or to be suppliedThe total price of the transaction, before any applicable taxesThe amount of any applicable taxesThe total price of the transaction, including any applicable taxes

What the act does not prescribe is the format of the sales record. Therefore, for as long as all of the above information is provided, they can be hand written, computer gen-erated or cash register print outs.

Sales records

Judging your book by it’s cover

Consumer Price Index January 2014

The headline CPI (for all urban ar-eas) annual inflation rate in Janu-ary 2014 was 5,8%. This rate was 0,4% higher than the correspond-ing annual rate of 5,4% in De-cember 2013. On average prices increased by 0,7% between De-cember 2013 and January 2014.Tourist accommodation December 2013

Total income for the tourist ac-commodation industry increased by 11,1% in December 2013 com-pared with December 2012 and in-creased by 17,9% year-on-year to December 2013. The main contrib-utors to the 17,9% year-on-year in-crease in December 2013 were ho-tels contributing 11,7% and `other` accommodation contributing 4,1%.Food and beverages December

2013

Total income generated by the food and beverages industry increased by 1,4% in December 2013 com-pared with December 2012 and by 4,0% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with the fourth quarter of 2012.

Retail trade sales December 2013Retail trade sales increased by 3,5% year-on-year to December 2013, by 1,4% month-on-month in December 2013, by 1,2% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with the previous quarter and by 3,1% in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with the fourth quarter of 2012.

Economic news in Brief

Quote of the week“No one can make you feel inferior

without your consent.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Last year saw an increase in book-ings to hotel, resort and destination spas, according to the 2013 ‘State of Spa Travel’ report, which is com-piled by Spafinder Wellness 365.

The report, which is based on a survey of over 300 North Ameri-can travel agents, found that 73% of travel agents reported a growth in bookings to spas. “Spa travel is on the rise in North America, which is now the world’s largest wellness

travel market, generating over 40% of the total dollars spent in that global segment,” said Mia Kyricos, Spafinder Wellness Chief Brand Officer.

Other findings included that young Baby Boomers, or people aged 46-55, were the most likely to book spa travel, and the emergence of exotic destinations, with 62% of agents reporting travellers seeking more exotic, off-the-beaten-path destina-

tions. In Africa, South Africa and the Seychelles ranked the most popular. Spa-goers were most typi-cally women travelling together, fol-lowed by a woman travelling with a man and women travelling solo.Today’s News Tourism Update

SA is amongst the top ‘spa’ destinations

YOU TALKING TO ME?A married man walks up to beautiful woman in a supermarket and says:

“I have lost my wife in the su-permarket. May I speak to you for a moment?”Bewildered the woman asks why.

“Because every time I speak to a beautiful woman my wife seems to appear out of nowhere.”

8 The Bushveld Times THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2014

The 7th annual Blyde X Fest 2014 is taking place at the Blyde Adventure Camp this weekend and will feature Kayakers from all around the coun-try gathering together to test their skills on the extreme white waters of the Blyde River. For more information on the pro-gramme, entry forms and accommodation details, go to www.blydeadventure-camp.com

Countdown to 2014 Tour Natal Rally:

15 Days

The Mighty Men Conference will be held at the Farm Sn-ymansdrift outside Polok-wane on the 28- 30 March. Speakers will be Riekert Botha and Piet Jacobs. En-trance is free.

For more informartion you can contact Francois Brits on 082 460 2540 or send an email to info@mmcbosveld.co.za

By Andries v/d WaltThe tradition-al opening round of the 2014 South African Rally National

Championship, the Tour Natal Ral-ly in KwaZulu-Natal, takes place on March 14 and 15 and sees de-fending champions Mark Cronje and Robin Houghton (S2000 Ford Dealer Team Fiesta) seeking a third successive national title and a hat-trick of victories in one of the oldest and most popular events in the country.

Organised by the Natal Motorcycle and Car Club with the assistance of the National Rally Commission, the 56th Tour Natal will be head-quartered at the Scottburgh Coun-try Club on the KZN South Coast, where it will start and finish each day and where a rally village and service park will be established.

There will be 14 special stages cov-ering a total distance of 195 kilome-

tres in the Scottburgh, Park Rynie and Umzinto areas. The entire event, including liaison sections, totals some 486 kilometres.

Competitors can expect the usual tough challenge on the gravel farm roads in the South Coast sugar growing area.“The landowners have once again been generous in their support of our event and we thank them for making it possible to put on one of the fastest and most popular rallies of the year,”said the organising committee’s Richard Vaughan.Cronje and Houghton dominated last season in their Ford, winning seven of the eight rounds and win-ning more than half of the special stages. They will be aiming for a third successive championship and a hat-trick of victories in the Tour Natal. If they win the opening round they will equal the achievement of Geoff Mortimer/Chris Hawkins, who won three on the trot between 1975 and 1977 in an Austin Marina V8, Sarel van der Merwe/Frans Bo-shoff (1979 to 1981 in a Ford Es-cort and again between 1984 and 1986 in an Audi Quattro) and Serge

Damseaux/Vito Bonafede 1993 to 1995 in a Toyota Conquest). Van der Merwe and Boshoff went on to record four successive wins while Damseaux and Bonafede hold the record of seven back-to-back victo-ries from 1993 to 1999.The reigning champions are likely to experience tougher opposition this year. Leading the challenge will be three factory S2000 entries from both Toyota and Volkswagen. Leeroy Poulter/Elvéne Coetzee and new combination Hergen Fek-ken/Carolyn Swan will be in Castrol Team Toyota Yaris entries, while Toyota Motorsport team-mates Gin-iel de Villiers/Greg Godrich will beback in their Imperial Toyota Yaris.

A new-look VW line-up is headed by promising youngster Henk Late-gan and new co-driver Pierre Arries in a Volkswagen Sasolracing Polo with former S2000 Challenge win-ners Gugu Zulu and Carl Peskin moving up to the premier class in a second Polo. The Dutch/Belgian combination of Hans Weiss Jnr and Björn Degandt, who impressed when they contested the 2012 sea-son and won the final round, are back in a third Polo.

Namibia’s Wilro Dippenaar and

co-driver Kes Naidoo will be back to contest the S2000 Challenge in their ex-factory PZN Panelbeaters Toyota Auris and can expect stiff competition from fellow Namibian Thilo Himmel and Armand du Toit (VW Sasolracing Polo), who have stepped up from the S1600 class, and Nic van der Westhuizen (ex-factory SA Earthworks Toyota Au-ris).

The two-wheel drive S1600 class promises to be as exciting and closely-fought as it was last year with defending champions Clint Weston/Christoff Snyders (Reef Tankers Citroen C2 R2) back to do battle with the likes of Matthew Va-cy-Lyle/ Schalk van Heerden (Fra-gram Tools Toyota Etios), Guy Bot-terill/Simon Vacy-Lyle (Yato Tools Toyota Etios), Chad van Beurden/Nico Swartz (Beurden Construc-tion VW Polo R2), Marco Himmel (VW Polo R2) and Ashley Haigh-Smith (Castrol Ford Fiesta R2).

Is a hat-trick in store for Ford?

The current national enduro title hold-er, 17-year old Wade Young (Brother KTM) took the first step in defending his title by winning the opening race of the Liquorland National Enduro Motorcycle Championship this past weekend at Four Rivers Adventures in KwaZulu-Natal. The ‘Liquorland Champagne Valley Enduro’ will not only be remembered as a tough season opener, but also for the high level of competition that predicts an extremely competitive season.As the defending title holder, Young, opened the route set in the scenic Champagne Valley in the Winterton

area. There were 11 Special Stages. Young posted the fastest times after four of the stages to beat second-placed Altus de Wet (Cargo-Tac Husqvarna Factory Racing) by 78 points (seconds). De Wet won the E2 (Open Class) and was the fastest after two stages even though he ex-perienced problems with leaking fork seals and a leaking radiator pipe due to a crash. De Wet made a plan with the leaking fork seals (his underpants had to serve as bandages around the forks) while he was forced to repair the radiator hose in the bush.

Wade defends his title

Top: Wade Young. Above: Altus de Wet

Bushveld events in March